Bronchiectasis and Long Term Azithromycin Treatment (BAT)

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Rationale: Patients with bronchiectasis often experience lower respiratory tract infections with progression of symptoms and decline in quality of life. Macrolides, as has been shown in panbronchiolitis and cystic fibrosis, may break or weaken the link between infection and inflammation resulting in an improvement of symptoms. Also the number of exacerbations may lowered.

Objective: A reduction in number of infective exacerbations and improvement in lung function by AZT treatment are the primary objectives. Secondary objectives that will be evaluated are: symptoms score, quality of life, inflammatory parameters, bacterial colonisation, and adverse events.

Study design: Randomised double blind multicenter study in the Netherlands. Patients will be stratified for colonisation with P.aeruginosa.

Main study parameters/endpoints: Reduction in number exacerbations, defined as increase symptoms such as dyspnoea, coughing, and sputum production for which a course of prednisolone and/or antibiotic is needed. Change in lung function parameters (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC]) measured by spirometry is the other primary endpoint.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: The risk of participating in this study is low. Laboratory, radiographic examinations, and pulmonary function tests are commonly used as diagnostic procedures during outpatients visits and during exacerbations. Adverse effects in maintenance treatment with AZT are usually mild and mainly gastrointestinal. Sometimes rash and abnormal liver function tests are observed. A better quality of life will probably be the beneficial effect of long term treatment with AZT. This will be achieved by a reduction in respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms and number of exacerbations.